Elizabeth mayor sends letter to Archbishop of Newark condemning closure of St. Patrick High School

Mark Dye/For The Star-LedgerSt. Patrick High School, the oldest parochial high school in the state, will be among several schools closing.

ELIZABETH — The mayor of Elizabeth has sent a letter to the Archbishop of Newark condemning the diocese’s decision to close St. Patrick High School.

"What kind of service, direction and Catholic school leadership are demonstrated by abandoning the education of students in their time of need?" Mayor J. Christian Bollwage wrote to Archbishop John J. Myers. "It is truly disappointing that the Archdiocese has chosen to forsake their ‘commitment to shaping the future of their students’ by implementing decisions that are in direct contradiction of the core values and ultimate mission of Catholic school education."

Archdiocese spokesman James Goodness said tonight he did not believe the letter had been received.

St. Patrick’s, a nationally ranked basketball powerhouse, is one of eight schools the archdiocese plans to close because of declining enrollment and fragile finances. It is the only high school included in the plan, which was made public this week.